Fortuna
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Second Fortunan Empire | |
|---|---|
 Flag | |
Motto: Strength Comes From Unity | |
Anthem: "Fortuna Forever" | |
 | |
| Location | Map |
| Capital and largest city | Destino |
| Official languages | Fortunan |
| Ethnic groups (2014 Estimate) | 89.58% Human 10.42% Vulpine |
| Demonym(s) | Fortunan |
| Government | Unitary One-party Totalitarian Dictatorship |
• High Commander | Tristano Lyone |
• First Commander | Ferdinand Romano |
• Second Commander | Susan Locke |
| Legislature | Common Chamber |
| History | |
| March 11, 1999 | |
| May 17, 1999 | |
| 2012 | |
| November 2017 | |
| Area | |
• Total | 135,796.76 km2 (52,431.42 sq mi) |
| Population | |
• 2020 estimate | 46,448,678 |
• 2020 census | 43,443,738 |
• Density | 344.37/km2 (891.9/sq mi) |
| GDP (nominal) | 2020 estimate |
• Total | $548.3 billion SHD |
• Per capita | $11,804.35 |
| Currency | Fortune (FT) |
| Date format | MM/DD/YYYY |
| Driving side | right (side of road) |
| Calling code | +9 |
| Internet TLD | .tsf .ftsf |
Fortuna (ˈfôrCHunə), also known as the Second Fortunan Empire, is a unitary totalitarian dictatorship island nation. The nation makes up all of the Aspirian Isles off the East coast of the Yasterian continent, sharing maritime borders with Sorentavia, Fusō, Isklevyu, Auraliyu, and the Packilvanian enclave of Antimovo. The nation main island groups is the Fortunan Archipelago, the Medium Isles, and Eridani Theta, covering an area of 135,796.76 km2 (52,431.42 sq mi). The four largest islands (Emili, Toscani, and Ancona, and Eridani Theta) make up most of Fortuna's land area. Compared to many nations on Urth, the population of Fortuna is quite moderate with an estimated population of 46,448,678 and its largest city and capital, Destino, holding up to 7.8 million people.
The history of Fortuna dates back to around 35,000 BC when people from the main land first began migrating to the region by natural land bridges. Starting around 1500 BCE and going as far as 200 CE, the Aspirian Isles would be heavily influenced and settled by Codexian groups from the south. Codexian influence would begin to dwindle following the raids and conquests of the Norvians, a seafaring people of unknown origin, who would eventually become the dominant group on the islands. 1017 would mark the formation of the Fortunan Empire following a period of conquests that eventually united much of the Aspirian Isles. The empire would continue for six centuries until its collapse in 1644 following the Great Civil War, splintering the islands once again for nearly 300 years. The Four States Agreement in 1860 would eventually solidify the sovereignty of Emili, Ancona, Toscani, and Eridani Theta. Entering into the 1900s would see a period of unending violence and war starting off with the Great War, leading into the War Against Foreign Aggression in the 1960s and 1970s which saw heightened growth in isolationism and nationalism on the Fortunan Archipelago. By 1996, the state of Emili fell under the control of the Unitary Nationalist Party with the election of Tristano Lyone as prime minister. In 1998, the three states of the archipelago agreed to the dissolution of the Fortunan Confederation in order to form a more centralized government under the control of the UNP. On March 11, 1999, the Fortunan Archipelago was fully united under one banner. Soon after, Tristano Lyone would declare himself absolute ruler of the nation, marking the starting point of the Second Fortunan Empire under a fascist dictatorship. After a decade of rebuilding, the regime would begin a series of campaigns to grow the nation's territory, starting with the annexation of the Medium Islands in 2012 and Eridani Theta in from 2017 to 2020.
Fortuna is a developing nation with a medium standard of living, a medium level of life expectancy, and a medium GDP. The nation holds a large military force, taking up 5.2% of the nation's GDP, used mainly for self-defense and law enforcing, but has currently been used for the Empire's expansion campaigns. Due to the removal of isolation, the nation's economy has slowly been on the rise giving the nation a GDP of $548.3 billion. The economy has recently been driven by the exportation of agricultural products, technology products, fishing, and weapons production. The nation also has a large shipbuilding industry with some of the largest dockyards in the region. Fortuna's economy is also heavily supported by maritime trade as the geographic location of the nation places it between major trade lanes along Yasteria's east coast.
Etymology
"Fortuna" comes from the old Fortunan name for fortune and luck, and it was also coincidentally the name of the goddess of luck in early mythology. The name Fortuna can be dated back to the Norvian kingdom of Fortuna, taking their name from the goddess they worshiped. This group went on to become the first to conquer the entire archipelago, leading to it being now known as the Fortunan Archipelago. The Kingdom of Fortuna over the years transformed into the Empire of Fortuna, also known as the First Fortunan Empire. When the islands were once again reunited under one centralized government in 1999, Tristano Lyone, the new leader of Fortuna, declared the nation as the Second Fortunan Empire.
History
Politics
Ideology
The Commanders
On May 17, 1999, Tristano Lyone declared himself as absolute ruler of the Second Fortunan Empire and gave himself the title of High Commander. Since then, Lyone continues to rule autocratically and expects absolute loyalty and obedience to him and the state. During his rise to power while he was running for office within the Fortunan Confederation, party leaders began propaganda campaigns to increase the popularity of Lyone. In present day, this popularity has evolved into a personality cult supported by the propaganda machine of the Information and Education Department and the military strength of the Fortunan Armed Forces.
In order to better govern and control the nation, Lyone appointed two individuals to serve under the title of Commander; one to run the nation's armed forces and the other to oversee the legislative and administrative bodies of the government. Ferdinand Romano serves as First Commander and is put in charge of the country's military, the Fortunan Armed Forces, having served in this position ever since Lyone's takeover. Susan Locke serves as Second Commander and is given authority over most of the administrative bodies of the Empire and presides over the Common Chamber, serving in this position since 2011. In 2016, she was appointed as Secretary of the Unitary Nationalist Party and merged the position's responsibilities under her title of Second Commander. As Secretary of the UNP, Locke also oversees the Unitary Nationalist Party Board of Approvals which is responsible for approving elected representatives on a federal and local, appointing regional governors, and appointing judges to regional courts. Although their titles are numerically different, they in fact hold the same amount of power and only answer to the High Commander. The only other body they have limited control over is the Elite Chamber who also only answers to the High Commander under most circumstances. Competition between the two is rarely seen as they put their loyalty to the High Commander above all else, however there has been noticeable tension as Romano continues to push for more autonomy for the military and Locke attempting to push for a more aggressive stance to further expand the nation's borders.
Elite Chamber
In order to help govern and ensure that the party remains in power, the UNP set up multiple organisations to manage parts of administration and increase state security. Heading these departments are a handful of powerful party members known as Elite Chambermen who are chosen by the High Commander. As of present day, there are currently 12 Chambermen who make up the administrative body known as the Elite Chamber of the Second Fortunan Empire, or simply the Elite Chamber. Elite Chambermen are able to serve in their position until their death, their resignation, or removal by the High Commander. New departments are allowed to be created and departments at times have the ability to merge with each other, but this is only possible with the approval of the High Commander as well. The Elite Chamber only answers to Lyone, however the Commanders may have some control over the body if given approval by the High Commander. Due to their position, Elite Chambermen are able to enact laws, again with the High Commander's approval, without having to go through the Common Chamber. Due to conflicting positions and opposing factions, the Elite Chamber is used more as a tool by party elites to further their own goals and amass more power for themselves.
Current Elite Chambermen
- Head of the Foreign Affairs Department - Alexander Reason
- Head of the Internal Affairs Department - Barbara Ditoscani
- Head of the Fortunan Science and Engineering Department - Rachel Ettori
- Head of the Regulatori - Leonard Rani
- Head of the Information and Education Department - Eugene Smith
- Head of the Department of Trade - Lorenzo Jackson
- Head of the Labor and Social Affairs Department - Salvador Nicchi
- Head of the Fortunan Intelligence Department - Serena Rustici
- Head of the Department of Agriculture and Environmental Protection - Elsa Colombo
- Head of the Department of Transportation - Gavino Moretti
- Head of the Finance Department - Abele Toscani
- Head of the Department of Energy and Infrastructure - Everly Gallo
Common Chamber
The Common Chamber is the main legislative branch of the Empire. However, due to the lack of any separation of power and all decisions done by the High Commander and the Elite Chamber, the Common Chamber only serves as a rubber stamp for Lyone. Because of this, the Common Chamber has little purpose besides providing further support for all laws and decisions made by the administrative body. The position of Representative to the Common Chamber is for the most part ceremonial with the Common Chamber only meeting 32 times between 2000 and 2019, and has enacted only a handful of laws which unanimously passed with the approval of the High Commander. The chamber has recently become the center of tension among opposing factions within the party, especially between the Isolationists and the Expansionists. One controversial example includes first vulpine representative, Samuel Merlo, to be elected in 2018 to serve within the Common Chamber, a decision pushed by Expansionist party members to gain more support from the vulpine populace. Terms for representatives is six years and there is not a limit on the amount of terms they may serve. One seat is granted for every 100,000 votes, leading to the Common Chamber to currently have up to 400 representatives. Between 2000 and 2020, only three elections were held. During elections, voters are given a list of approved party members to chose from with a few exceptions for non-party member candidates who were still loyal to the High Commander. Participating in elections are a requirement and voting against any party-supported votes is heavily discouraged. This has led to all three elections receiving more than a 95 percent turnout and unanimous approval in all elections. The only ones who can vote are those with full citizenship, preventing non citizens and Honorary Fortunans from voting except on special occasions.
Administrative Divisions
Fortuna consists of a number of subdivisions, first being divided into five island groups officially considered as regions; Emili, Ancona, Toscani, Medium, East Eridani Theta, and West Eridani Theta. Each of these, with the exception of West Eridani Theta due to currently being militarily occupied, has its own elected legislature and governor (regnore) who is chosen and approved by the UNP Board of Approvals. As with Common Chamber representatives, regional legislative representatives must first be approved of by the party before being elected by the regional population. Regions are then further broken down into counties and cities, led by a mayor (contidaco) chosen by a regional UNP board and a council with members chosen by the mayor. The final administration level is districts and villages which handles a majority of a Fortunan citizen's day-to-day routine and is led by a chief (capo), either elected or succeeded by a chosen successor depending on the system and culture of the area.
Judicial System
The structure of the judicial system was created with the sole purpose of enforcing the legal codes of the Empire and to punish individuals considered enemies of the state. Many of those who are convicted either face the death penalty or are sent to labor camps or reeducation centers. There exists regional courts and county courts with judges being assigned and approved by the UNP Board of Approvals.
Foreign Policy
Following the Toscanan-Emilian War, any remaining foreign relations deteriorated as the Fortunan Confederation entered into another state of isolation and hatred for foreign entities ran rampant. This would continue into the 2000s with the creation of the Second Fortunan Empire, but in order to revitalize the economy, Lyone and other party leaders made the decision to become more open to the outside world. This would include the bettering diplomatic relations and the exchange of embassies and ambassadors with multiple nations across Urth. Fortuna especially holds close relations with Baykalia, which consists of a handful of trade and military agreements. Concerning Fortuna's neighbors, relations are either tense or non-existent. This is due to both cultural, government, and religious differences. For example relations between Fortuna and the Free Pacific States only consist of national recognition, however due to government differences Fortuna is not very fond of their southern neighbor. The same can also be said for the Pax-Caliphate to the east and Ambravia on the island of Eridani Theta.
Military
The Fortunan Armed Forces is the armed forces of the Second Fortunan Empire, consisting of the Fortunan Army, the Fortunan Navy, and the Fortunan Air Force. The force is managed and controlled by the Fortuna Military High Command, or simply High Command, which is headed by First Commander Ferdinand Romano, also serving in this position under the title of Chief Commander. Serving as Commander-in-Chief of the armed forces is the High Commander who has absolute ruling over the forces. Military service is compulsory for all citizens upon reaching the age of 18 and are required to serve at least 36 months in any branch. Along with the Regulatori, the forces in total consist of around 575,000 active troops. With a stated amount of 1,520,000 reserved personnel, the total amount of trained troops is estimated to be around two million. In early 2020, the estimated spending of the Fortunan military consists of around 5.2% of the national GDP, remaining one of the main focuses of the Fortunan government. Although a considerably high spending for it's size, the armed forces continues to lack behind many of the major powers in Yasteria. For this reason, Fortuna's military doctrine in the 1990s to the early 2000s was based around deterrence. In recent years however, the military began switching over to a more aggressive stance as seen with the annexations of the Aspirian Isles entering into the 2010s.
The Fortunan Army is the main ground force of the military, consisting of around 360,000 active personnel. The Fortunan Navy is considered the most important branch of the military with the task of protecting Fortuna's waters, consists of around 50,000 active personnel, and also consists of two sub branches; the Fortunan Coast Guard and the Fortunan Naval Infantry. The Fortunan Air Force serves as the military's aerial branch, controlling a majority of military aircraft, and consists of around 40,000 active personnel. Along side of the Fortunan Armed Forces is the Regulatori, a paramilitary force that serves as the UNP's military branch which serves as the party's main security force and law enforcement for the nation, consisting of around 120,000 active personnel.
Due to Fortuna's general isolationist stance from the 20th century to present day, the government of Fortuna took heavy strides to further develop its military industry. This includes the production of its own small arms, armored vehicles, fighter planes, helicopters, naval vessels, and missiles. The main standard issue infantry rifle is the PRODAF FA-1, with ongoing efforts to replace it with the PRODAF FA-2. The Tartaruga Main Battle Tank serves as the primary tank which has gone through multiple developments since the War of Aggression and its hull used a base for other military equipment such as the Ghiandaia Howitzer. The primary multi-purpose combat aircraft continues to be the Mirage C-FA, along with the FSED Uragano being introduced as the military's primary ground attack aircraft. Large efforts have been put into advancing VTOL technology, with a variety of helicopters and tiltrotors having been produced and used in recent years. The primary rotorcrafts are the FSED Hadria and the Costella Helena, primarily used by the Fortunan Navy and the Fortunan Air Force. The current number of operating vessels by the navy is 153: 5 amphibious transport docks, 28 destroyers, 24 frigates, 6 submarines, 4 landing ships, 5 minesweepers, and a varied fleet of auxiliary ships. In order to deter immediate conflict with neighboring superpowers, Fortuna also maintains a large arsenal of missiles at all times. A stockpile of chemical and biological weapons are also maintained to be used as a deterrent. Efforts are being made by the government to obtain nuclear weapons, although the current state of Fortuna's nuclear program is unknown.
Violation of Rights
In it's current state, Fortuna is well known for it's violation of basic rights. Under the rule of a single-party totalitarian government, the people of the isles see large restrictions on political freedom with the UNP having full control of the nation's political system. Adopting the Nationalist Act of 1973 and the Political Protections Act of 1997 during the period of the Fortunan Confederation, socialist and communist parties are banned along with anything deemed "anti-Fortunan" by the UNP, allowing for the arrest of anyone deemed as a political enemy. Democratic processes barely exists in any form with voting either being done for ceremonial purposes or only on a local level. Even then, candidates and legislature must first be approved by the party before being voted on by the populace.
Fortuna is especially condemned for it's violation of species rights with a history of targeting specific groups. The state is known for the promotion of speciesism, targeting groups that are considered not native to the isles. During and after the Toscanan-Emilian War, nekomimis faced heavy discrimination and violence before being forcefully removed from the isles with the Fortunan Purification Act of 1973. This also included a number of other species, such as felines, with the limited exception being vulpines. The Purification Period (1973-1979) saw the highest level of violence on the islands with the rise of nationalist and fascist ideals, with over 300,000 individuals detained and over half million displaced. Along with the displacement of thousands, multiple of accounts of species-based massacres occurred with an estimated 100,000 killed, facts that continue to be denied by the Fortunan government ever since. Human purists played a large role in policy making during the Purification Period and into the early years of the Second Fortunan Empire, leading to purposeful discrimination of vulpine communities although many are considered native to the archipelago. Heavy discrimination against the vulpine population continued to persist until recent years as certain political leaders have attempted steps to manage it. Expansionist party members have been known to push for more vulpine representation, although this is seen as simply a political move to gain favor internationally and boost their own numbers.
With Clarityism being the de facto state religion of Fortuna, religious discrimination is also seen on a large scale. Adopting the Clarity Protections Act of 1975 in order to protect Clarityism, all other religions are banned and the practice of such religions would lead to the targeting and arrest of such individuals. Religious buildings and structures, many that had survived for centuries, were torn down and destroyed. Atheism is also looked down upon, and the practicing of Clarityism is considered a requirement. The Church of Clarity, the established church of Clarityism, was tasked by the Clarity Protections Act to maintain Clarityism dominance within Fortunan borders, seeing the establishment of the Clarity Protections Service. Individuals deemed religious enemies of the state are revealed, and with the assistance of the Regulatori, are detained and sent to reeducation centers.
The Regulatori, the main military branch of the UNP, serves as one of the nation's main law enforcement departments. They are tasked with the apprehension and imprisonment of individuals deemed dangerous to the state or for committing a range of crimes. The Regulatori are the first to oversee law enforcement in recently annexed territory and personally works with local law enforcement to ensure law and order. Based off accounts from defectors, individuals deemed an enemy-of-the-state are sent to one of many labour camps or reeducation centers that are run by the Regulatori. The conditions of these labour camps resemble closely that of slavery, with those deported to these camps rarely leaving and forced into heavy labour. The main purpose of reeducation centers is to rehabilitate individuals considered redeemable by the state. The exact condition in these reeducation centers is unknown, but it is expected that prisoners here go through intense torture and prolonged isolation. Prisoners that are deemed reeducated are allowed to return into society, although it is reported these individuals come out physically and mentally deteriorated.
Geography
Fortuna is a collection of islands, nineteen of which are larger than 50 km2, within the Aspirian Isles off the east coast of Yasteria. The islands are split into three parts; the Fortunan Archipelago, the Medium Islands, and the Islands of Eridani Theta. The Fortunan Archipelago is a collection of islands that form a circular-like pattern and are located around 27°N and 113° E, just above the Tropic of Karakta. The Medium Islands consists of all islands found between the Fortunan Archipelago and Eridani Theta.
The land area of Fortuna is 135,796.76 km2 (52,431.42 sq mi), making it one of the smaller nations found on Urth by land area. Most of the land area consists of the four largest islands of Emili, Ancona, Toscani, and Eridani Theta. A large percentage of Fortuna are covered in forests and mountains, making much of the land area unsuitable for agricultural, industrial, or residential use. This causes much of the population of Fortuna to locate themselves along the coast, and a continuously growing population has led to a high population density of 326 km/2 (844.34 mi/2).
Due to its location, Fortuna consists of a few dormant volcanoes, occasional earthquakes, and tsunamis. Within the Fortunan Archipelago, the way the islands formed helps create a barrier against tsunamis and tropical storms for those on the inside of the circle. This is one of the reasons why much of the population are found in the inner circle of the archipelago. Earthquakes are still a problem, ranging from small quakes up to 9.0-magnitude earthquakes, examples including the 1923 earthquake that killed nearly 100,000 people and the 2004 tsunami, a disaster which caused over 15,000 deaths in Columbia of the Free Pacific States, which led to heavy damage to southern Emili and the city of Baronburg. There has been steps taken to monitor earthquakes, volcanoes, and tsunamis to help reduce chances of death, but this doesn't prevent Fortuna from having one of the highest natural disasters.
| Island Name | Land Area (km2) | |
|---|---|---|
| Eridani Theta | 58,359.70 | |
| Emili | 34,242.34 | |
| Toscani | 30,280.04 | |
| Ancona | 8,280,04 | |
| Venmar | 760.80 | |
| Mira | 614.98 | |
| Helena | 526.22 | |
| Grenato | 437.46 | |
| Telga Gamma | 393.08 | |
| Telga Beta | 240.92 | |
| Rosa | 336.02 | |
| Telga Alpha | 329.98 | |
| Opali | 323.34 | |
| Linaro | 304.32 | |
| Flora | 145.82 | |
| Western Norvo | 95.10 | |
| Eastern Norvo | 95.10 | |
| Oscanati | 88.76 | |
| Littori & Vittori | 69.74 | |
Climate
The climate of Fortuna is predominantly temperate, specifically a humid subtropical climate, along with four distinct seasons. Within higher elevations, climate categorized as cool humid continental climate is more commonly found. Along the southern side of Emili and a small part of Toscani also consists of warm tropical rainforest climate. Sitting just above the Tropic of Karakta, the climate of the islands are heavily effected by the East Yasterian monsoon. Fortuna is a fairly rainy country with annual rainfall averaging between 1,500 and 3,000 millimeters (59 and 118 inches). Rain is more prominent on the south end of Emili where it is common for it to rain every day during the rainy season. The season of summer is considered to be from the months of June to September, during which a rainy season will occur in June with the weather becoming hot and humid following afterwards. The average temperature during summer sticks around 25.2 °C (77.4 °F) with the highest recorded temperature being 39.8 °C (103.8 °F) in 2019 within the city of Baronburg. Typhoons are also most common between the months of June and October with an average of six to eight typhoons hitting the Aspirian Isles, causing heavy rainstorms. As for winter, this seasonal period is considered to occur between the months of December and February. Some snow does occur during this period, especially inland at higher elevations. The average winter temperature is recorded to be around 3.6 °C (38.48 °F) with the lowest recorded temperature being -21.4 °C (-6.52 °F) in the western mountains of Eridani Theta.
Biodiversity
Fortuna has a range of ecosystems that varies from island to island, ranging from tropical rainforests in the south, temperate and boreal forests at higher altitudes, and more humid subtropical climate for most of the Aspirian Isles. This has allowed for a large diversity of flora and fauna to continue to exist even with an ever growing population and more settlements being created. On the southern end, species that are typical to tropical areas are more commonly found, especially on the island of Emili. Further north where it is more temperate, these islands share a variety of flora and fauna commonly found in Fuso and Isklevyu. The island chain consists of some of the highest diversity of marine creatures on Urth. Fortuna also has a variety of endemic species found only on the Aspirian Isles, making many species quite rare and a handful considered endangered, further pushing the need of environmental protection by the Fortunan government.
About 100 species of land mammal exist on the Aspirian Isles. Few of these are carnivores, with 12 species in total. Two of the largest mammals to be found on the islands is the Larole black bear and the Toscanan clouded leopard, only found on the islands of Emili and Toscani respectively. Smaller mammals also include foxes, the raccoon dog, and Anconan red weasel. The most famous mammal is undoubtedly the Fortunan Red Panda which is endemic to the isles and officially the national animal. Grazing mammals native to the islands include the wild boar, sika deer, and Aspirian serow. Of marine mammals, the islands include the dugong and Aspirian humpback dolphin. The orca is by far the most popular, having swam in the waters before the arrival of the Norvians with a few fishing villages having created a bond with local pods. Historical records exist showing whalers from the island of Linaro and orcas assisting each other during their hunts.
A large variety of bird species also occur on the isles with over 500 record species. Half of these species are endemic such as the red bellied crane and Amber bush warbler. Birds that are considered non-endemic are shared with the mainland, especially Fuso, Isklevyu, and Free Pacific States. Migration of birds is a common sight within the region during the seasons of spring and fall.
There exists around 4000 species of plants on the isles, a few that are endemic to the region. tropical rainforests can be found on the southern ends of the Fortunan Archipelago, with subtropical making up the rest of the archipelago, the Medium Isles, and Eridani Theta. Temperate and boreal forests are found in higher altitudes, most prominently on the island of Toscani and Eridani Theta. A few of the most dominant trees on the isles include the Larole cypress, Amber oak, and Fortunan velvet pine. Bamboo is more common within the inner part of the Fortunan Archipelago.
Environment
In the period between the 1880s and the 1960s, increase in industrialization saw to a rise in environmental pollution. To confront this, state governments passed laws to help provide environmental protection. This led to the creation of national parks and protected areas which make up 14% of the country. The environmental protection laws that were created are still used today and is strictly enforced. Deforestation or destruction of the environment in any way is considered illegal unless one is given a permit by the government. Oil and coal shortages over the years along with a lack of natural resources also has played a major role in the push towards alternative energy. In recent years, Fortuna has taken large steps to use renewable energy with 12% of Fortuna's energy being based off renewable energy like solar or wind power energy, a set goal of 20% by 2020.
Economy
Agriculture
Overseeing and being responsible for Fortuna's agricultural industries is the Department of Agriculture and Environmental Protection. The agricultural sector makes up around 12% of the nation's total GDP. Due to the geography of the islands, only 16% of Fortuna's total landmass, or about 20,000 squared kilometers, is arable land. The use of terraces are a common sight due the limited amount of arable land and growing urban areas. Most farms are small and family-owned, receiving heavy protections and subsidizations from the government as it is considered an integral piece to the nation's survival. Rice remains the most popular crop grown on the islands with rice paddies being a common sight in agriculture areas, both inland and along coastal bays. Other crops are grown depending on the season in Fortuna such as wheat, potatoes, and a vary of other vegetables. Fortuna is also one of the largest producers of seaweed and related products, consisting of some of the largest seaweed farms on Urth. During the first years of the Second Fortunan Empire in the early 2000s, efforts were made to support local farmers and increase productivity in order to make Fortuna more self-sufficient. Although the attempt at full autarky was unsuccessful, the agricultural sector was deemed a success, allowing for Fortuna to almost remain 100% self-sufficient in agricultural products.
The Fortunan fish industry remains an important part of the nation, both culturally and economically. As part of Fortuna's attempt at full autarky, the development of new technologies and techniques were promoted to make fishing more efficient and profitable. In 2019, over 2 million metric tons of fish were captured by Fortuna's fishing fleet, making it one of the highest annual tonnage of fish caught. The nation also consists of over 500 fishing ports, most found on the Codex Pontus and Pacific coast, with Gologma serving as the largest fishing port and consisting of the largest Fortunan wholesale market for seafood. Advances into aquaculture and large scale fisheries has become more prominent in recent years as part of the regime's self-sufficiency attempts, leading to 1.5 million metric tons of fish being produced within Fortunan fisheries in 2019. Although rather unpopular both nationally and internationally, the whaling industry also remains rather large with whaling fleets hunting as far as the South Pacific Ocean and the Southern Ocean.
Smaller industries include livestock and forestry. The most popular livestock are cows, leading to larger growths in beef and dairy production. As a large part of the nation is considered protected for cultural and environmental reasons, the forest industry remains rather small. Most planted forests are found on the island of Emili, consisting mainly of Larole cypress. Although stronger building materials have seen more use in the past century, wood is still an important material for construction for smaller villages and less urban areas.
Science and technology
The Fortunan Science and Engineering Department is the leading agency responsible for the development and coordination of science and technology-related projects along with the promotion of related policies in Fortuna. Another prominent institution includes the Institute of Marine Engineering which has contributed immensely to the island chain, especially in the field of watercraft design, shipbuilding, and land reclamation, working especially close with the FSED and companies such as Terine Industries. Fortuna also has a number of universities that promote science and technology, among which includes the Caso University, Destino University, and the Pleiades University of Technology.
Tourism
Tourism continues to be a small industry in Fortuna, but the regime has put more effort into it due to the industry's potential and an appeal to appear more open to the international community. As it remains heavily controlled by the Fortunan government, the average annual amount of tourists that Fortuna receives is about 150,000 to 200,000. Besides the appeal of visiting a totalitarian dictatorship, the nation also offers a range of attractions and guided tours. Tourists are usually only allowed to visit the city of Baronburg, a historical city known for it's connection to the outside world, although it is sometimes possible to visit Destino, the capital of the Fortunan Empire, and Terine. Interactions between locals and tourists are tightly controlled with visitors mostly only allowed to interact with party approved guides and employees. A small number of hotels and resorts are available for visitors, and tourists are provided access to the internet, although heavily regulated, and international calling. While within Fortuna, visitors are expected to show their utmost respect to Fortunan iconography and traditions as any form of disrespect is considered highly offensive and at times have led to detention by the Regulatori. For this reason, tourists are required to stay within designated areas designed specifically for tourists and to stick close with their guide whenever travelling outside of these areas.
The largest tourist resorts include the Fortuna International Hotel and the Esta Resort, both located in close proximity to Baronburg with access to the beach. In Destino, the main resort is the Veridian Hotel which was mainly built to house foreign diplomats and allow access to attractions within or near the capital. Participating in guided tours is the only way for tourists to explore the nation outside of designated areas. The most popular tours that give tourists the opportunity to travel along the United Isles Highway, allowing for visitors to visit popular attractions all around the Fortunan Archipelago. Guided tours allow for tourists to see many sites such as the mountain shrines of Antevorta, traditional fishing villages, historical structures in Baronburg, and significant historical and cultural museums. Mountaineering has shown relative interests from visitors, with specialized guides allowing for tourists to hike the mountains of Emili and Toscani.
Infrastructure
Transportation
A combination of roads, rails, and waterways is facilitated as the main means of transportation. Air transportation had only recently become more common with a growing leniency to international travel and expansion of the nation with recent annexations. All forms of transportation, whether private or government run, are regulated by the Department of Transportation. As of 2020, Fortuna consists of 300,684 kilometers (186,836 miles) of roads, of which 149,271 kilometers (92,753 miles) is paved roads. In 2007, the United Isles Highway was completed consisting of a circular network of highways and ferry routes to connect every major island and city within the Fortunan Archipelago. This transport system has become one of the most important parts of the nation's transportation, allowing for easier access between the archipelago, appeal to the tourist industry, and created a better sense of unity between the archipelago's occupants. With the annexation of Eridani Theta, an overhaul of the current road system along with a new network of highways was announced to increase efficiency on the island. Personal vehicles are permitted, but public transportation is heavily encouraged and promoted. Forms of public transport for roads includes a network of buses and taxis, along with ferries for the United Isles Highway.
The nation's rail transport serves as the backbone for each individual major island with a long history dating back to the late 19th century. Altogether, Fortuna consists of 6,090 kilometers (3,785 miles) of rail networks, with 1,060 kilometers (658 miles) being urban rail transit systems. Within the Fortunan Archipelago, the railway systems became privatized in the 1990s to increase efficiency and bolster competition between Fortunan railway companies. Eridani Theta's railway system is currently government-owned, however plans are in the works to hand over assets and operations to Fortunan railway companies as the island is currently going through an integration phase. There are currently only five separate railway systems, and as such are ran as five operating groups; the Emili Railways Association (ERA), the Ancona Railways Association (ARA), the Toscani Railways Association (TRA), the Imperial Fortunan City Railway Company (IFCRC), and the recently formed Eridani Theta Railways Association (ETRA). Each group, with the exception of the IFCRC, consists of multiple companies that provide mainly passenger transportation, along with freight transportation at a lesser extent. Companies are required by the state to ensure that their railways are well maintained in case they needed for use by the military or other state entities. Within major cities, urban transit systems are the main source of transportation for residents. Due to the general high density of Fortunan cities and restrictions on personal vehicles within urban areas, urban transit sees heavy traffic daily, especially within Destino and the Imperial Fortunan City.
Following the allowance of international travel in the early 2000s and later the annexation of the Medium Isles, the importance of air travel was realized, leading to it's heavy investment entering into the 2010s. As of 2020, there are 46 airports in Fortuna, three of which allow for international transportation. This includes Destino International Airport, Baronburg International Airport, and Equilara International Airport. Other major airports also includes IFC Regional Airport, Terine Regional Airport, Gologma Regional Airport, Tanta Regional Airport, and Telga Regional Airport. Aspiria Air is the main airline in Fortuna and the only one that provides international flights. There are also six other Fortunan airlines that focus on domestic flights, taking on the responsibility as the main form of transportation between the Fortunan Archipelago and the rest of the Aspirian Isles. With the advance of VTOL technology by Fortuna, helicopter and tiltrotor transportation has become more popular for travel across major islands. As of 2020, there are 21 heliports designated for higher capacity travel.
Because Fortuna is made up of archipelagos and island chains, the use of watercraft still remains as an important form of transportation. Major ferry routes play an important role in the United Isles Highway, allowing for the flow of heavy traffic between the islands of the Fortunan Archipelago. Hundreds of routes exist in just the Fortunan Archipelago alone, making travel between coastal towns and villages easier. There are over 500 ports in Fortuna, consisting of cargo, passenger, fishery, and naval. The major seaports, as designated by the Department of Transportation, for maritime shipping are: Terine, Baronburg, Gologma, Riburn, Tanta, and Telga. Traditional watercraft are still a common sight near the nation's many coastal villages, used mainly for fishing and inter-island travel. The use of smaller river craft is common, allowing for travel inland for Fortuna's larger islands.
Energy
Demographics
According to a April 2020 estimate, there is a population of 46,448,678 people within the Second Fortunan Empire. This results in Fortuna having a population density of 344.37 km/2 (885.8 mi/2). The distribution of the population is mainly around large urban centers such as Destino and Imperial Fortunan City, with over 25 million within the five most populated cities. Due to the difficult geography of the Aspirian Isles, much of the population can be found along the coast with very few large cities found inland with the exception of Equilara in Eridani Theta.
The population has been in a slow ascent until the early 1900s when immigration increased drastically as the archipelago was going through heavy industrialization. Immigration would slowly decline to a near halt in the late 1960s and into the 1970s due to the Toscanan-Emilian War. Population growth would again rise in the 1980s and 1990s as the states pushed for large families. This resulted in the Fortunan Archipelago specifically to end up with a high population density which has become one of the regime's justifications for the Empire's recent expansions. Fortuna consists of very little variance of sapient species present on the islands. Humans is the most dominant sapient species, consisting of around 41,608,349 individuals, or 89.58% or the population. The rest consists of vulpines that make up 10.42% of the population, or around 4,840,329 individuals, mainly located on the northern islands such as Eridani Theta, Toscani, and Rosa. The vulpine population especially grew with the annexation of East Eridani Theta in 2017 and Ambravia in 2020.
| City Name | Population of City | |
|---|---|---|
| Destino | 7,813,046 | |
| Terine | 6,261,427 | |
| Imperial Fortunan City | 4,873,628 | |
| Baronburg | 4,328,535 | |
| Gologma | 3,902,475 | |
Language
The only official and recognized language of the Empire is Fortunan with an estimated 40 million native speakers within the nation while the rest of the population say they use it as a second language. Fortunan also consists of dozens of different dialects which usually depends on the island. There also exists a few regional and minor languages, but many of these have been phased out or gone extinct due to the Empire's integration programs and establishment of a national education system. Due to a recent leniency towards the outside world, learning a secondary language has been allowed but only for educational and commercial use, with Codexian and Unonian being the most prominent languages learned.
Religion
Since the 1970s, the de facto state religion of Fortuna is Clarityism. Fortuna is considered to be extremely religious, with no reported atheists. The practicing of other religions is also prohibited with few exceptions in recently annexed territory. The main reason for this was due to the time period known as the Purification Period following the end of the Toscanan-Emilian War when intolerance and hatred of foreign entities rose drastically, leading to many being arrested, forced off the Fortunan Archipelago, or killed. The Clarity Protections Act of 1975 saw the banning of all religions except for Clarityism, and past acts allowed for the demolishing of non-Fortunan structures, leading to the destruction of hundreds of places of worship. The act also established the Clarity Protections Service which uncovers and detains religious antagonists to be sent to reeducation centers. It was estimated that around 20% population of the Fortunan Archipelago practiced other religions from Clarityism, but by the 1980s, that number dropped down to less than 1%. In present day, Clarityism is heavily supported by the UNP, especially due to religious connections to the High Commander. Many Claritists believe that Lyone is a prophesied being known as the Elescelto who was chosen to reunite the islands following the Great Civil War in the 1640s. Due to this connection, the Lyone and the party has pushed for this relation to better unite and control the population. With the annexation of Eridani Theta in its entirety in 2020, a small number of the vulpine population still practice Vayan Catholicism. The regime has made no statement regarding their stance on the matter, but there have been reported accounts of religious persecution by the Regulatori and the Clarity Protections Service.
Society
Education
Following the Purification Period, the teaching of nationalist ideals soon became a requirement in many Fortunan schools. Going into the 1990s, schools became the foundation for the spread of UNP beliefs as many educators that disagreed with the party were replaced by more favorable teachers. To be allowed to teach during this time, teachers were required to be party members of the UNP and be a believer of Clarityism. By the time Tristano Lyone took power, the same requirements were still enforced but began to also include swearing an oath of loyalty to Tristano Lyone and the Fortunan Empire to receive a teaching permit. If they showed any lack of devotion to the Empire, students, parents, and fellow teachers are encouraged to report them to the Information and Education Department or the Regulatori to face jail time or dismissal.
All forms of education within Fortuna are state-owned, all ran by the Information and Education Department. The Department is responsible for insuring that teachers and educators are only teaching state approved lessons. Textbooks and assignments for primary and secondary education are to be state-approved before use in the class. During the 1970s to the 1990s, the state governments had all books and texts deemed non-Claritist and un-Fortunan seized from households and libraries to be confiscated and destroyed. Nationalist teachings only started to begin in the late 1970s, and was later reformed and further enforced after the UNP takeover in the 1990s. UNP elites believed it was of utmost that the Fortunan youth are indoctrinated into UNP beliefs, so it is required for children to enter into the state-approved education system at the age of 6. It is also mandatory for children to receive a 10 year education, mainly consisting of primary and secondary education.
Primary education lasts for six years. During this period, children are given a basic education in Fortunan, mathematics, and science. However, the main focus in primary education is on history, geography, culture, and physical education to further indoctrinate Fortunan children to UNP ideology. Secondary education also lasts for four years and further teaches these same lessons but with a larger focus in physical education, such as martial arts and hand-to-hand combat, and physics for military application. Military academies are highly sought out by Fortunan parents as these schools further enforces discipline, loyalty to the High Commander and the nation, and preparation for military service.
Upon graduating from secondary education, all graduates are required to take a collection of tests in order to enter higher education. The Personal Intelligence Exams, more popularly known as the Ettori Exams after Director Rachel Ettori of the Fortunan Science and Engineering Department, were created to pick out the most intelligent, most fit, and most loyal young adults. Those who score extremely high are persuaded and supported by the government to become future leaders and pursue careers such as in science and engineering for the FSED, politics to become favored members in the UNP, and military to become officers, receiving large benefits to allow them to participate in higher education. Young adults with slightly lower scores are also encouraged to attend university, but they usually receive little to no benefits and support from the government. Finally, those who score low are told to begin preparations to join the workforce after military service. These young adults are not blatantly discouraged from entering into higher education, but it is made nearly impossible as many of these individuals come from low income households and most universities require for a higher score from the Personal Intelligence Exams to attend. Low scorers are given the ability to attend specific job programs to provide them with basic work skills.
For those who have the ability to attend, university usually begins once they have completed their mandatory service in the military for three years. In some situations, young adults have the option to attend university first for a few years before completing the military service. In university, many students study for careers that are encouraged for them by the government. University students are also required to participate in military training to insure that they are always prepared for potential military action.
Women and Family
Women have become an important part of Fortuna's social policy. With a focus on societal unity above all, the UNP advocated for an egalitarian society while also discouraging and eradicating independent feminist movements. Replacing feminist groups is the Fortunan Nationalist Women's Organization, first started in 1975 and has steadily grown over the years with the help of the UNP in the 1990s. The role of the organization when it was first created was to promote motherhood, household activities, and fitness. In recent years, their main focus shifted more towards promoting independence, leadership, and strengthening of state loyalty.
Women are encouraged to stay in the work force, and the creation of large families was considered ideal for those who score poorly on their Ettori Exams. Women who give birth to two or more children receive an award for aiding in growing the Fortunan population. Large families may also receive subsidies to help with their utilities, school fees, and household expenses. Since 1975, birth rates in Fortuna has increased, leading to a dramatic rise in population. The party also adopted the promotion of large numbers of women to be hired to work in munitions and other industrial factories during Fortuna's economic revitalization period entering into the 2000s which played an important role Fortuna's adoption of certain egalitarian principles. As with all Fortunans, women are encouraged to follow the results of their Ettori Exams and those who test poorly rarely seek higher education.
Women are to be strong and healthy, so the study of health and fitness are heavily promoted. An athletic woman with a strong body and mind is most ideal to Fortunan standards. To indoctrinate children early into nationalist values, organisations were created, such as the Fortuna Youth in which membership is compulsory at the age of 10. The Young Girls of Fortuna was a section of the Fortuna Youth which was for girls from the age of 10 to the age of 14 while the Fortunan Girls League are for girls from the age of 14 to the age of 18. The FGL's activities mainly consisted of running, marching, swimming, gymnastics, fencing, and sharpshooting.
Fortuna Youth
Fortuna Youth is the youth organization for the Second Fortunan Empire. Its origins dated back to 1974. It gained popularity in 1985 when it integrated itself into the Unitary Nationalist Party, with its main focus in youth organization and paramilitary. The Fortuna Youth is composed for four branches: the Fortunan Boy Scouts (for boys ages 10 to 14), the Young Girls of Fortuna (for girls ages 10 to 14), the League of Fortunan Lads (for boys ages 14 to 18), and the League of Fortunan Girls (for girls ages 14 to 18). Membership is mandatory.
Environmentalism
Fortunan society is known for its support of animal rights and environment protection, especially of those native to the Fortunan Archipelago. The Fortunan government has passed laws that protected animals and the environment, such as the 2002 Animal Protection Act which led to the ban on hunting of specific animals, including the national animal the Red Panda. Zoos and reserves have become a favorite of for Fortunans, and many animals from around the world have been brought to the island chain because of this.
In 2003, the National Nature Protection Act was passed to protect the landscape from excessive economic development. In the same year, the National Preservation Act was passed which led to the creation of dozens of national parks across the archipelago. Although pollution is heavily discouraged, very little effort has been made by the government to enforce and legislation.
Culture
Following centuries being divided by politics and geography until unification in 1999, Fortuna has developed a unique culture, built from a multitude of regional customs. Following the rise of fascism in the 1970s, old Fortunan culture was heavily promoted and anything considered foreign were discouraged or "Fortunanized." The collecting and preserving of Fortunan art and architecture has been a top priority of the Fortunan people, thus a vast collection of buildings, art, and literature from the time of the First Fortunan Empire still exists to this day.
Architecture
Fortuna has a broad and diverse architectural style which has been not only influenced based off the period, but also the regions.
Fortunan architecture gains much of its design and style from the First Fortunan Empire, with complex designs, arches, and domes with a few examples having survived to today. Fortunan architecture has also pulled influence from many of its neighbors, which one of the main reasons of Fortuna's diverse style. Toscani and the surrounding islands pulled much influence from the mainland such as the Pax Caliphate and Fuso. Emili architecture shows sign of influence from Codex architecture, most likely due to its close proximity to the former colonial power. Ancona is what many consider to consist of the most "pure" Fortunan architecture, but design differences are notable between cities due to the rise of city-states in the late 1600s. Eridani Theta also has a unique architectural style which has gained much from vulpine design. The Medium Isles does not have a distinct style, adopting much of it from the surrounding islands and Fuso. Some of the most prominent buildings within Fortuna include the Imperial Palace, Fortuna Monument, Guiliano Cathedral, Marchello Cathedral, and the city design of Terine. Prior to the rise of the First Fortunan Empire, buildings traditionally consisted of wooden structures, being built on stilts, and steep sloping roofs, giving many homes a triangular shape. Stone and concrete materials would later be put to use during the Empire's age which also saw the introduction of foreign design and architectures. Entering into the 17th and 18th century as urban areas saw rapid growth, buildings were built close together due to geographic limitations to make use of all available space. This saw the increased use of multi-storied structures and the use of porticoes to still allow movement for residents.
Starting in the 19th century saw the emergence of Fortunan Revival, an architectural revival movement especially seen in religious and institutional buildings which incorporated Fortunan styles most prominent during the First Fortunan Empire. This would continue into the 20th century where it became heavily inspired by the growing nationalist movement. Following the end of the War of Aggression and the popularity of a unitary state between the islands of the Fortunan Archipelago, the artistic movement known as Unitary-Rationalism emerged as a way to further bring the Fortunan states together. In architectural design, this consisted of creating a logical and mathematical style that could be used regionally. One of the most prominent architects of this style was Cornelio Notte who is widely known for designing many public buildings such as the Chamber Building. Although the Fortunan government promotes the preservation of historically important structures, obvious foreign structures have been the target of demolition. During the Purification Period, hundreds of places of worship of multiple religions that were not Claritist were torn down. Structures and art that had once survived for centuries were demolished and destroyed upon orders of the Fortunan states as backlash against foreign aggression and seen as the rebirth of Fortunan culture.
During Clarityism’s infancy, religious structures were limited to small shrines, many of which were simply repurposed shrines that were previously used for Norvo-Aspiriac worship. As Clarityism continued to grow, larger structures and churches were built. The basic design of a Claritist church was its circular shape and domed roof in order to represent the Eye of Clarity. Directly in the middle of a church would sit an altar on a raised podium. The church would also be decorated both on the inside and outside with carved statues of religious figures or depictions of significant events. Churches are for the most part built rather small in size, however larger structures have been built, mainly within major urban areas. The two most significant structures are the Guiliano Cathedral, built in the early 1500s in Imperial Fortunan City, and the Marchello Cathedral, built in the 1930s within the city of Destino. Sculptures and statues of religious figures, specifically the Angitenti, are also created alongside shrines and churches. Although many are also created small in size, the islands are scattered with immense statues of certain Angitenti with the most popular being Fortuna. The tallest statue currently standing is the Fortuna Monument, a depiction of the Angitente Fortuna built overlooking Destino that was completed in 2009 and stands at a height of 100 meters. Another statue that is going to depict Tristano Lyone, the current autocratic ruler, is currently in the works to be built next to the Fortuna Monument and has been reported that it will stand at a similar height.
Literature
The Aspirian Isles have a deep history of literature, dating even further back than the Norvian invasions, contributing to Old Codex and Norvian languages. During the times of the Codexian civilizations on the archipelago, the writing system brought from the south was simplified and only used amongst Codexian societies. The arrival of the Norvians in the 3rd and 4th centuries brought along their own writing system and alphabet which shared many similarities to Impelanzan.
Visual Art
Art has become an important piece in Fortunan culture, with art museums and art collecting still being widely popular, mainly those of Fortunan artists. The golden age of art in Fortuna was between the 15th and 17th century when artists strived for realism within their art. This time period led to the birth of popular artists such as Giraldo Li Fonti with his paintings of Empress Ausiliatrice II and her family, then with Crescente Piccio and Tito Fallaci gaining notability for their paintings and sculptures of Claritist deities. Following the result of the Great Civil War, more dark and surreal art began to appear in the late 1600s, displaying disappointment in the collapse of the First Fortunan Empire and a lack of structure within the islands. This type of art has recently become especially popular in present time, with works by Dolcelino Udinese and female artist Sara Capon gaining much fame from Fortunan nationalists.
In the 19th century, Romanticism had grown in popularity, and this is also seen in Fortunan art as well. Romantic artists such as Muzio Esposito, Guarino Calabrese, and Cino Fanucci led the way in Fortunan art at this time. Impressionism, brought in from the south, gained a footing in Fortuna with the help of artists such as Marilena Gallo and Romolo Baresi. In the early 20th century, Futurism slowly rose within Fortuna, although many feared that it may be too "abstract."
Abstract, modern, Dadaist, and expressionist art are considered by many as an abomination to Fortunan culture. With the rise of nationalism in the late 1900s, thousands of modern art were removed from museums and replaced with art approved by the government. Hundreds of these art pieces were destroyed during the Purification Period, the remaining pieces were either placed in secured facilities or placed in special exhibitions. As part of the Unitary-Rationalist movement that saw immense growth in the late 20th century, a handful of art was also inspired by this movement, raising a few artists to popularity such as Teresa La Polla and Nestore Caruso.
Media
Media in Fortuna plays an important role as the main propaganda tool used by the UNP to promote their ideals and educate the populace. There exists no freedom of press with all media being heavily controlled and filtered through the Information and Education Department. Newspapers have fallen out of favor entering into the 21st century with most mass media being consumed through television or radio. All broadcasting stations and journalists are continuously under surveillance even after going through years of approval and training. There are only six TV stations, all owned by the state. Fortunate News serves as the nation's main news distributors through it's divisions Fortunate News Television, Fortunate News Radio, and Fortunate News Print. The Internet is also accessible, however it is heavily monitored and censored with only privileged citizens allowed access to it.
The history of cinematography in Fortuna first started during the Great War in 1913 with foreign films being brought in from the south. The first Fortunan film lasted for only a few seconds, showing the steamship Proud Salacia heading out of the port in Baronburg. Following the end of the Great War, the Fortunan film industry was born between 1918 and 1920 with the companies Emili Film and Destino Film, both based on the island of Emili. Other companies slowly followed, popping up mainly in Ancona. These companies soon were producing quality and acclaimed films, and by 1925 many films were already being exported overseas. Following economic downfall in the 1930s, neorealist films took over the market as it displayed the life of the poor and working class. Starting in the 1940s, as the film industry was growing larger and more popular, a flow of new genres entered the stage. Epics based on old Norvo-Aspiriac mythology received much praise, although at times controversial due to its close relation to Clarityism. Thrillers and gangster movies rose to popularity in the 1950s, and would continue into the early 1960s.
In the 1960s, the film industry stagnated as the archipelago was thrown into conflict against each other once again. The governments of Emili and Ancona, the states where a majority of the film industry was located, decided to help fund the creation of films to help boost morale and spread further propaganda. When the War of Aggression finally came to an end in 1973, films started to focus again on neorealism and nationalism. War films showing the heroism of Fortunan soldiers against the enemy was a common place in theaters. By 1976, Fortuna banned the import of foreign films from the mainland, leaving Fortunan film companies unopposed, however still under the watchful eye of the states. The 1980s and into the 1990s saw a new type of nationalist films that centered around the First Fortunan Empire, calling for the return of a strong, central government. These films were at first immediately banned, but when the UNP gained more control and influence, pro-unity films boosted further into popularity. Film today is entirely state-ran after the two largest film studios, Emili Film and Destino Film, were bought by the Information Department. Not all films are designed for propaganda purposes, but all films must never be anti-Fortunan and all scripts are pre-censored before filming. The most popular films by Fortunans still remains war films and national propaganda, many based off the War of Aggression, the Unification Campaigns, or the most recent annexation of the Medium Islands. In 2010, the ban on importation of foreign films was lifted, but all films have to go through heavy censorship before being distributed to the public.
Sports
The most popular sports in Fortuna are, by far, combat based. One-on-one competitions based around speed, strength, and agility are a favorite for Fortunans. It is common to find small stadiums where one-on-one competitions can take place. Fortunans are especially fond of "Spintada," a sword-fighting technique native to the Fortunan Archipelago which is widely practiced and shares many similarities to fencing. State and National Competitions are held year-round, and thousands participate and compete in their specific age group. School club competitions are also quite popular, with thousands of students competing each other from around the nation. Besides Spintada, other popular one-on-one competitive sports include wrestling and boxing which have their own regional and national competitions.
Fortunans also indulge themselves in other individual, non-combative sports. The most popular of these would be solo sailing, a favorite among fishing villages. The Circular Run is the most famous sailing race, holding both solo and team competitions, where competitors compete against each other to lap around the inner circle of the Fortunan Archipelago, starting and ending at Destino. Running has also become a popular sport as it encourages athleticism. Cycling has recently become a popular, especially following the completion of the United Isles Highway and the creation of the United Isles Tour, a race where riders cycle the entire circle with the assistance of ferries to cross large bodies of water. Other individual sports that are found in Fortuna also includes swimming and table tennis which consist of their own regional competitions.
Popular team sports mainly just consist of football (soccer), volleyball, and baseball. Football is currently considered the most popular team sports with the Fortuna National Football League serving as the highest level of football in the nation, consisting of many regional and city based teams with large followings. Baseball also remains rather popular with the highest level of baseball overseen by the Fortuna National Baseball League. As with football, many teams are city based, so team rivalries are enjoyed by fans.
Holidays
There are currently 12 national, government-recognized holidays in Fortuna. Many of these are based around religious significance, seasonal changes, and national importance. Local festivities and holidays are allowed as long as they are first approved by the regional governments. Current dates are based off the Gregorian calender which was first adopting by the islands in the early 19th century.
During religious specific holidays, Claritists will assemble at their local place of worship, being either a shrine or church, where they will pray certain prayers together depending on the date. Holidays centered around national successes or are military related consist of political rallies and military parades with the largest celebration being Victory Day and Memorial Day, a two day celebration centered around celebrating the end of the War of Aggression and to honor military personnel who have died. Seasonal festivals are also celebrated, although no exact dates are nationally recognized and depends on the region with the exception being the Week of Winter. During the Week of Winter, Fortunans will celebrate the end of the year and begin preparing for a new one. Claritists also pray for any extra good luck that they have to be given to those less fortunate, however this also consists of giving physical gifts, a tradition that began in the early 20th century which was most likely brought in from elsewhere. Other seasonal celebrations includes the Spring and Fall Festivals that celebrate the coinciding season with a range of traditions and practices depending on the region. Seasonal festivals are especially known for their parades which consists of lively music, colorful floats, and traditional dances, a complete opposite of the more clean and professional military parades. Parades are also known for their rowdiness and extensive drinking.
| Name | Date | Remarks |
|---|---|---|
| New Year's Day | January 1 | This national holiday celebrates the beginning of a new year. |
| Blessing of Unus | February 13 | This national holiday is focused around the worship of the Claritist deity Unus. |
| Unification Day | March 11 | This national holiday was established 2000, celebrating the official day when the Second Fortunan Empire was formed. |
| Blessing of Fortuna | April 30 | This national holiday is focused around the worship of the Angitente Fortuna. Celebrators during this time will specifically request for good luck and fortune. |
| Victory Day | May 12 | This national holiday was established in 1980 to celebrate the end of the War of Aggression, the most bloody war in Fortunan history. |
| Memorial Day | May 13 | This national holiday was established in 1980 to honor the many men and women who died for the Fortunan states. |
| Blessing of the Angitenti | May 28 | This national holiday is focused around the worship of the many other Angitenti within Clarityism. |
| Labor Day | June 1 | This national holiday was created to celebrate the millions of workers in Fortuna. |
| Blessing of the Sea | July 5 | This national holiday was created to honor the sea, focusing on hoping and praying for a bountiful catch, safety from storms, and prosperity for the island nation. |
| Day of the High Commander | August 26 | This national holiday was set up to celebrate the birthday of High Commander Tristano Lyone who was born on August 26 in 1969. |
| Day of Spirits | September 30 | This national holiday was created to remember the dead and pray for the safe return of spirits back to nature. |
| Week of Winter | December 25-31 | A week long period to celebrate winter and the end of the year. Fortunan citizens are required to have at least two days off during this period. |